OSHA Inspection: JAMES L. BEVANS, DDS, MS

Issued

Aug 12, 1994

Abate by

Jan 13, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
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employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
The dentist's dental hygienists, dental assistants, and office personnel
were exposed to
hazardous levels of nitrous oxide (levels detected were from 36.3 ppm to
78.5 ppm/8
hour TWA) emitted from the anesthetic system and from expired waste
anesthetic gases
given off by the patients.  These exposure levels are approximately 1.4 to
3.1 times the
NIOSH recommended level of 25 ppm for an eight-hour time-weighted average.
This
level was established to reduce exposures to waste anesthetic gases which
can cause
spontaneous abortions, congenital abnormalities in children, and affect
the liver and
kidneys of exposed persons.  Sampling was conducted on eight employees,
with the
average sampling time being 447 minutes, on May 10, 1994.
Feasible and effective abatement can be expected to include, but is not
limited to:
1.  Make sure that waste gas disposal lines are connected;
2.  Avoid turning on the nitrous oxide until the circuit is connected to
the patient;
3.  Switch off the nitrous oxide when not in use;
4.  Purge the system between uses;
5.  Maintain the oxygen flow until the scavenging system is flushed;
6.  Increase number (frequency) of air changes per hour for general
dilution ventilation;
7.  Increase volume of outside air entering into the workplace with each
air change; and
8.  Install local exhaust ventilation.
Disclaimers:
a.  The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA,
b.  The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases,
c.  The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement
method.